Psychotherapy, often shortened to just “therapy,” typically involves talking to a mental health professional about life and its problems. It also may combine talk and medications. The talk part of the therapy usually is a guided tour that seeks to help the sufferer identify the causes of pain and aims to find a solution to cope with it.
The key to psychotherapy is understanding the root causes of behaviors, ideas and emotions that cause mental distress, and then finding ways to avoid its triggers and identifying which aspects can be improved. This helps the patient gain a sense of control and hopefully prepares him or her to move forward with confidence. Solutions aren’t easy to come by, but recognizing the problems is a step toward solving them.
Four Main Types of Therapy
There are four main types of therapy. Individual treatment involves one-on-one interactions between the patient and therapist. Group therapy is two or more people sharing experiences and helping each other compare past reactions. Couples or marital therapy involves talking about communication among spouses and behaviors that may be modified, and family therapy involves a coordinated discussion among family members on issues that affect one or more members.
Some people may be more comfortable sharing intimate details privately, while others crave the dynamics and comparative histories that groups share. The goals are all the same, but the path to achieving results differs. Your personal preference will determine which is right for you.
The Sub-Groupings
From those mainframes of individual/group/marital/family, therapy drills down into more specific forms. Here are the main groups:
Psychodynamic Therapy: This process tries to help the patient work through unresolved issues, usually rooted in childhood. By talking about the incidents that may have triggered the issues the patient faces, it is hoped that he or she will develop ways to cope. This type of therapy can last months or even years.
Interpersonal Therapy: A method that studies interactions with a patient’s friends and family. This short-term therapy seeks to raise a patient’s self-esteem and bolster communication skills. It’s used for depression in such instances as a death in the family, transition caused by major life events (a birth, a job move), relationship issues and social isolation.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy – This is a perception approach, and the therapist will try to assess and modify patients' views of themselves and interactions with others. The goal is to change the assumptions they may hold and the causes of those situations. Many patients suffering from depression or anxiety will be treated with talk and medication with antidepressants, but some who refuse or can’t take medication will just have the verbal stimulus.
In all cases, patients must cooperate with their therapists by attending all scheduled sessions and being prepared to discuss issues candidly. It helps if the goals are established upfront, providing a guide to the patient and therapist on progress in addressing the issues. Identifying sources of stress, structuring life priorities into positive behaviors, making time for contemplation or recreation, and a focus on positive outcomes and managing stress are all potential goals of therapy, as they enable the patient to move forward from their current state into better mental health.
Finding a Therapist
Because we live in an age where insurance rules everything, the first place you should start when looking for a therapist is determining coverage. Find out the insurance company’s rules on who needs to provide a reference if needed, the list of approved mental health providers and how much coverage is afforded.
Failure to lock down any of that information could lead to financial complications, the last thing someone suffering from mental illness needs. Some insurers require a diagnosis of a potential psychiatric disorder before approving therapy, and most will limit the treatment's duration to achieve results.
There are various methods of finding a good therapist. Some are recommended by friends or family members who have been treated and found the results successful. Others are referred by medical professionals in the field, solicited through online ratings (the respected Psychology Today has a list of providers), or perhaps university recommendations.
Keep in mind that the best therapist is one with whom are comfortable talking and potentially revealing intimate details during your encounters. It may take one or two sessions to discover that the person you’re with may not be right for you, and it’s fine to seek a second or even third opinion. It is allowed in most cases to switch doctors.
Make sure your therapist is licensed to practice in your state (insurers will usually perform such due diligence, but it never hurts to be sure). Your personal bias regarding age, gender or location may play a role in your selection. Therapy is a trusted relationship, and feeling comfortable with the person you’re dealing with is imperative for any lasting changes.
Keep in mind that psychology is not as it’s depicted in the movies, with an older gentleman stroking his beard while the patient lies on a leather couch. Modern psychology more often represents a conversation between two people, and you may wind up sitting rather than lying down.
People who work hard at their goals in therapy often spend less time in treatment and will cope better with potential triggers for a relapse. That’s why it’s important not to stop therapy abruptly once started. As with any medical treatment, a trained professional will ease you back into a routine and offer suggestions on things to be aware of when you’re on your own.
Ultimately, keep in mind that all therapy requires time. There are no quick fixes for serious mental health issues, but with effort, a positive outcome and long-lasting results can be achieved.